Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Ringing in the New Year With Realistic Goals



Positive New Year's resolutions will bring about change

Anyone seriously interested in bringing about change in our world, in his or her own life or with respect to the lives of others, in the year 2008 AD or later, might consider making these positive New Year's Resolutions, your own.

I resolve to bring love, joy and peace to our world, whenever it is possible for me to do so.
I will reflect a positive image and attitude towards others.
I will speak openly and honestly and teach others to do the same.
I will consider and encourage others to regard and to treat human life and all other life, as sacred.
I will live my life as fully as possible and help others to do that as well.
I will spend my time and talents wisely, investing in my own future and that of others appropriately.
I will do the things that I know will help me and others to become strong and healthy.
I will take the time to reflect upon my own life and make whatever changes are necessary.
I resolve to make the year 2008 a wonderful year, to the best of my ability.

One might ask why New Year's resolutions like these are so important. It would appear that only God, however He is comprehended by humankind, could bring about an immediate change for better in the entire world, at one time.

In reality, each one of us, as a unique human being, can play a special part in effecting change, in our world.

In fact, each one of us is called to do so, because collectively, we constitute the human race. It is our obligation to bring about positive changes, although we may not see that as our personal responsibility.

While no one can help everyone, each one of us can try to help at least one other person, in some way. 

Many of us can do more than that by our words and deeds.

No one can deny that there are people in many parts of the world who are hurting, as the result of war, famine, floods and other natural disasters. We need to remember that every time we turn away from someone who is suffering, we could be next.

So, when you decide upon your own New Year's resolutions and when you speak with others about theirs, remember that positive New Year's resolutions like these, will bring about change for the better, for you and others in our world.


Monday, December 8, 2014

How to Make Rebating a Worthwhile Venture



Rebates: A worthwhile venture versus an exercise in futility

For some people including you, it may appear that rebating or pursuing rebates on purchases is a worthwhile venture. It may also prove to be an exercise in futility, which can lead to frustration for you or others. A lot depends on how you handle your rebate submission.

Awareness is the key!

Rebating is a growing trend, both in our era and for the future generations to come.

Rebates are being offered more and more frequently, as a marketing strategy by retailers, to increase business and sales. Numerous items like computers, printers, cameras, cell phones, cd or video players and other electronic items, can be purchased at remarkable prices, if and when rebates are used. This is one way to obtain amazing discounts on the prices for these items.

What you as the potential consumer, need to be aware of, is the reality that rebating requires serious effort on your part, in order to obtain the rebate money. To do this successfully and avoid an exercise in futility, which can lead to a lot of unnecessary frustration, you might consider some suggestions.

Each time a purchase is made by you as a customer, it is important to ascertain exactly what is required in order for you to obtain the rebate that is being offered. Be aware of what the basic requirements are.

There will be at least three criteria that must be met.

First, there is the rebate form. The offer should provide an application form, more commonly called a rebate form, that will have to be filled out by you or by someone at your place of purchase.
There are store rebate forms that do not require this. These will look like a long receipt and will state that they are rebate forms. These, you just send in.

The rebate form that you have to fill out may not be obtainable from the store or from your place of purchase. Because of the wide use of computers in our era, this kind of rebate form may have to be obtained from an online web site. You will be directed to the address of the web site. Make certain that you know how to navigate the site in order to find the appropriate form. Then print it and fill it out. Some rebate forms can be submitted online, but not all of them.

You may be told that you will be sent a rebate form by the store, a customer service department or by the company that handles their rebates. The rebate form may not be included with the item that is purchased when it is shipped, mailed or otherwise sent to you.

If there is no rebate form or there is no available rebate form online, this can be an frustrating situation for you. In this kind of a scenario, it may be possible for you to submit the necessary information another way, for example, by putting it on a piece of paper or a postcard. Check with the rebate processing company for their guidelines.

The store may offer to fill out or to submit the rebate form for you. In this kind of a situation, you do not have to do anything. A problem can arise though, if the store promises to submit the rebate, but then the submission is not made or is not received by the rebate processing company.

Find out before making the purchase, if there is a rebate form that must be submitted by you and how you are expected to obtain one. Ask the store sales person if they are doing the rebate form submission for you or see if they can help you to fill out the rebate form if you find this too difficult or complex to handle by yourself. Many stores will do this as a courtesy and all you need to do is to mail it in.

Note that rebates can be declined, because there is no rebate form included in the submission or the one that is sent is not an appropriate rebate form.

As a customer, you may be asked to re-submit your rebate form, if the one you sent in is not received by the rebate company or if it is not the one that they are looking for.

The second requirement will be some kind of a receipt or something that provides proof of purchase by you as the customer, for the item in question.

This may be a store receipt. What is a store receipt? If you were to go to a store and purchase something, like a jug of milk, you would obtain a receipt from the clerk at the cash register, to show that you are the one who made the purchase.

Do not throw your receipts away. They may prove to be your only proof of purchase.

Receipts can take other forms, as well. If the item you have purchased has been obtained with a credit card, a statement that includes the purchase, may not be accepted by the company that is paying out the rebate money.

It may be frustrating for you to become aware that unless you can provide an actual receipt as proof of purchase, you may not be able to obtain the rebate money. A debit card statement may not be deemed to be acceptable, as a receipt.

There are times when including a packing slip from a shipping company, may be appropriate. Using a service agreement may be allowed, as a receipt. An order confirmation of some kind may be used, at times and not at other times.

One important thing to be aware of is what kind of a receipt is expected by the company paying out the 
rebates. Try to provide the kind of receipt that they want initially, in order to save a lot of frustration, at a later date.

Ask your store or other place of purchase, "What kind of proof of purchase do I need, in order to obtain my rebate?"

The third requirement will probably be the label from the packaging that the item was received in by you, as the customer.

This can confuse and confound many people, if you do not realize that the label from the packaging, particularly one that has a lot of bar codes, contains information that is essential for the processing of the rebate.

Pertinent information is encoded into bar codes, so do not discard package labels with barcodes.

If the box or packaging that the item was received in has been thrown out by you, or by the store, it may not be possible for you to obtain the rebate payment. This depends upon the requirements of the company doing the rebate processing.

Never throw away the box or packaging that you receive your purchase in, as it may still have important information that is required in order to have your rebate processed.

The label on the package may be referred to as an activation sticker or it might be called a upc. The rebate processing company may request the original label, so in that case, just cut it off the box and send it with the other rebate requirements. Sometimes a copy of the label or upc is acceptable, but not always.

Do not staple or tape your label to your rebate form and receipt, as it may have to be set aside in processing, in order to remove the staples or the tape. Most rebate submissions are scanned in or photocopied, when they are received.

It is important to keep copies of all the information you submit. Even with all of our modern day technology, there is no guarantee that when you put something in the mail, that it will reach its destination. Certified mail is advisable, particularly if you are aware that there is the possibility of a problem with the mail in your area.

If you are in doubt about the basic requirements of your rebate, how to submit or mail in the rebate or where to mail it to, contact your place of purchase. Find out who the company is that is handling the rebate and if necessary, contact them directly by telephone or by e-mail.

These suggestions can make your rebating experience into one that proves to be a worthwhile venture, rather than an exercise in futility. Happy rebating.


Finding Meaning in Your Life



The dimino dream pathway

Finding meaning in one's life may have to do with the realization of one's own potential.  Everyone aspires to reach a mountaintop of some kind. Each one of us has a different mountain to climb or a goal to reach in life.

I have mine and you have yours. The reality is that some people will reach their mountain tops and achieve their goals and others will not succeed.

Why is this true?

Few people actually realize that they have the potential inherent within themselves, to accomplish anything that they want to do and often, their dreams are dropped, by the wayside. This can occur many times in one's lifetime.

On the road from a dream that is not in existence, to a dream that is in existence, ie. the dimino dream pathway, there remains the reality that anything is possible. The route remains to be discovered.

Many people have dreams that are dependent upon other people's dreams. If the dream that they have been building upon fails, then in turn, theirs will tumble also, just like a row of dominoes falling down, when the first one falls over.

On the other hand, the dimino dream has its own distinct pathway and is not based upon, or is not dependent upon someone else's personal success or failure. When the dimino dream is realized, it is because the person who has this unique dream acts upon it, or has already acted upon it prior to that time and place.

This initial step is often one that is taken by a person who is alone, with respect to the dream. Seldom are these kinds of dreams shared with others, in the beginning and often, this is because these are the kinds of goals or aspirations, which are ridiculed or mocked by others. Many people give up because of this.

When the dimino dream emerges or happens, ie. becomes a reality, it will stand the test of time, because it is independent in nature and it is not secured in time or place by someone else's dream, which may or may not succeed or have succeeded or perhaps has collapsed in part, or in total, somewhere along the way.

One might ask how dimino dreams begin.

There are a number of distinct possibilities:

A word
A thought
An idea
An inspiration
A vision

It might be difficult to place these into a definite order of occurrence, but one can see that once these things begin to happen, there is the possibility of a dimino dream emerging or coming into actual existence, after arising out of what may have appeared to be non-existence.

A word can leads to a thought which gives an idea; this can lead to an inspiration with an resulting vision.
What is required next is action on the part of the dimino dreamer.

Action may consist of developing some sort of a plan. Developing this particular plan of action involves becoming aware of the necessary steps that must taken in order for the dimino dream to become a reality.

Actually, it is already a reality, if one can see it as a reality, when the dimino dream has been conceived.

When one sees that dream as a reality, then it becomes a matter of finding all the other steps that are needed, in order to turn it into just that, more fully and then, taking those steps, one at a time.

One might also ask where or what is the source of the dimino dream.

Some will state that it comes from deep within oneself. Others will claim the source as divine. Only the dimino dreamer will know the true source of his or her personal dream.

The reality of the dimino dream will become increasingly evident as the dimino dreamer seeks the fulfillment of that dream.

Climbing that mountain or reaching that goal becomes more and more of a reality, as the dimino dreamer seeks to fulfill his or her own potential. Once that reality is realized, then one finds true meaning in his or her life.

You too, can find meaning in your life by bringing your dimino dream into reality.


What to Do If Your Credit Card is Lost or Stolen



A major concern: A credit card appears to be missing

First, when you realize that your credit card is missing and appears to be either lost or stolen, do not panic. 
Try not to run around looking for it frantically, as that may create serious problems for you and your family.
Getting into a panic situation could cause you to have an accident or to be injured, which could further complicate the problems that may be pending. 

Credit card loss is a major concern, but use common sense as you check to ascertain as to whether your missing credit card is lost or stolen.

Do the following:

Make notes of the exact time and place, when and where you realized that the credit card was missing. 

Carefully check your pockets, wallet or purse, to see if you have accidentally put it somewhere that you would not normally place your credit card. Check your home, car and driveway, to see if it has been dropped, somewhere. Look in the glove compartment and the trunk of your car. You may just find it.

Make a note as to whether or not other credit cards are missing. Check to see if there are any missing checks in your wallet or if there appears to be cash missing, particularly when you are certain that your credit card was in your wallet or purse.

Have you just used the credit card? Note where and when you last used it. What kind of a transaction was it used for? How much was the transaction? Check any receipts or documents from the last known use of the credit card. You may have left your credit card in among these receipts or other papers.

Contact the place where you have just used your card. Ask the people at the store or wherever you have just been, to take a good look and see if they can find your credit card. Advise them that you may have left it there. It could be on a checkout counter or it may have fallen on the floor. (Many people are   good about returning credit cards, if they find them. Expect to receive a call in that respect and be gracious to them, if they do call to advise you that they have found your card.)

Check everywhere that you have been since you last saw the credit card. Draw a mental map or an actual map to re-trace your route.

Make notes of anything that appears to be unusual in your home or car. Was there an unlocked door or an open window? Was a screen cut? Did you find muddy foot prints?

Alert family members to the fact that the credit card appears to be missing and may have been either lost or stolen, as you cannot know for certain what has happened at this time. A family member may have borrowed it without telling you.

Alert the credit card company when you are certain that it is missing, possibly lost or stolen. It is wise to do this, as soon as possible, in order to prevent any further transactions from happening on the credit card. A series of transactions can take place very quickly if someone has found your credit card or stolen it. They may use it for immediate activity or for gas purchases and then run with it.

Once you are certain that the credit card is actually missing, lost or stolen, ask the credit card company to block all further transactions on your current credit card number and to change your credit card number immediately. Find out whether or not you have credit card insurance. This may be something that you have taken out and are not aware of at this time. You may be covered for sustained losses, if the card is used by someone else.

Alert the police if there is other theft, damage or other loss that is evident in your home or car.

Check your credit card transactions, as soon as possible. The credit card company will be able to give you a list of all your most recent transactions, as well as any other transactions by someone else.

Alert the police immediately if there is any suspicious activity on your credit card statement, when it comes in.

If you do all of these things, you can rest assured knowing that you have done the right thing.


What Not to Do When Pulled Over for Driving When Intoxicated



Ten 'Do Nots' for Drivers Pulled Over When Intoxicated

So, you have been drinking in excess and a police officer has pulled you over?

Here are ten guidelines to follow with respect to what you should not do, if you have been pulled over, for driving while intoxicated. You can avoid a worst case scenario by taking this advice seriously.

When confronted by a police officer, do not deny that you have been drinking, as you may or may not realize that you have been drinking in excess. If you are intoxicated, you should not be driving at all. Your general behavior and the smell of alcohol on your breath will confirm the reality that you have been consuming too much alcohol.

Do not fight or argue with the police officer, as he or she may have saved your life or that of someone else. 

Thank the officer for preventing you from being the cause of a serious accident and give him or her, your car keys immediately, if asked to do so.

Do not refuse to show the police officer your driver's license. He or she may need this, for identification purposes at a police station or a hospital, particularly if you have suffered an earlier injury or are demonstrating signs of confusion and memory loss. This is needed to contact family members. Allow the officer to check your previous driving record. You may or may not have a history of alcohol abuse with respect to driving.

Do not use any abusive, violent or profane language, as the police officer may place you under immediate arrest because of it. Be polite and apologize to him or her, as you know that your deeds and actions are not appropriate, when you have been consuming too much alcohol.

Do not drive away, try to run off or to hide from the police officer. He or she is there to help and to protect you, as well as the rest of your community. Do not panic. Give yourself up to the officer or officers, quietly and calmly. Be aware that how you treat the officer may determine how you are treated. The police officer will advise you of your legal rights, so listen carefully.

Do not become violent or abusive towards the police officer. He or she has been trained appropriately with respect to dealing with violent and abusive people. You may find yourself in jail, as a result of violence or abuse against the officer, rather than because of the amount of alcohol that you have consumed.

Do not refuse to take a breathalyzer test. This will help to determine your actual alcohol intake and it may be needed for your defense, in the future. Do not refuse to have a blood alcohol level done either, especially if you are a diabetic. Co-operate as much as possible, as this may save your life. You may want to call your family doctor.

Do not hesitate or forget, to contact your legal counsel, as soon as possible, as you will need a lawyer. 
Remember that any abuse demonstrated towards the lawyer or others can result in future legal action against you. Be honest with your lawyer, as this will benefit you in the long run.

Do not hesitate to ask your arresting officer, legal counsel, family and friends to help you to deal with your drinking problem, particularly if you are becoming aware that it is an addiction that you can no longer control.

Do not forget that Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization that will help you deal with alcohol addiction. You can contact them through others, by telephone or on-line twenty four hours a day.

These ten 'do nots' will result in a positive and constructive change in your life, which will benefit you and your family, as well as your community, in the long run. You will be glad that you did seek help. Think seriously about all of this, before you go out drinking next time.

Remember that driving while intoxicated is a serious, criminal offense!

Reasons for Success on the Job



True inspiration and motivation: How to find the key to success on the job

With true inspiration and motivation, which is the key to real success on the job, one can go far. It does not matter what job one, attempts as he or she can probably succeed, at least to a certain degree, at no matter what he or she tries to do, but without at least some degree of true inspiration and motivation, nothing at all will happen.

Inspiration in itself, may or may not lead to motivation. The two work together, hand in hand. Inspiration and motivation can come from many sources, for example, people, books, music, artwork, travel or nature. There is no limit to the number of ways one can become inspired and motivated to do something. For some people, the only thing that motivates them is money. For others it is a pleasure principle. Another motivational factor is prestige. But, are they the sources of true inspiration and motivation?

When one does find a true source of inspiration and motivation, it can change his or her life for the better. Many people have a vast variety of job skills that are never developed, to any great extent or used at all, because they are not motivated to use these skills. Much of what people have learned just disappears in the wind, so to speak, as they grow older. Exactly the opposite should be happening, as an elderly person has a wealth of experience to draw from in terms of both inspiration and motivational factors.

On the other hand, there are those young and old, who are continually doing something new and exciting on their jobs, as well as in their personal lives, every single day of their lives. They are successful and happy people.

What has triggered their success on the job and in their lives, is likely some kind of a true motivational factor, beyond mere inspiration. Anyone can be inspired, but without some kind of motivation, the inspiration in itself cannot and does not bring about success.

Taking into account the reality that motivation is always there, for almost anything one might be challenged to do, if one can recognize it, the next step has to be one in which one acts upon the motivation.

True inspiration leads to true motivation; true motivation demands action on the job.

Action on the job leads to success; non-action on the job leads to failure.

Fear is one of the major reasons why people fail to act upon any inspiration and motivational factors on the job. Facing fear or looking beyond fear allows one to face reality and to succeed.

Why should fear be allowed to control people's thoughts, lives and success on the job? Many times that fear is not legitimate, but it does need to be confronted. Weighing the true inspiration and the true motivational factor against the fear, places the lives of people in a proper perspective.

Having a new perspective, may be sufficient to allow people to move on in their jobs and in their lives, as well as enabling them to do some of the things that may or may not have been possible in the past.

Looking seriously at what truly inspires and motivates you personally, on your job is important. Why remain disillusioned with everything, when enjoying life and your job is the better option?

True inspiration and motivation is the real key to success on the job.


Finding Your Ideal Hobby



Seven secrets for growing phalaenopsis orhids, as an ideal hobby

At times, finding your ideal hobby involves learning the secrets of something unique, like how to grow phalaenopsis orchids. Growing phalaenopsis orchids can be a rewarding and an exciting hobby, because they are beautiful and exotic flowering plants. The blossoms are truly exquisite and remain on the plants for several months at a time, if left undisturbed. Everyone will fall in love with them and marvel at how you managed to grow anything so beautiful.

Here are seven secrets with respect to growing phalaenopsis orchids, as your ideal hobby.
First, place the orchids in a window facing east, where there is filtered light. The room temperature should remain at approximately sixty-five to seventy degrees, although the plants may do well, even at a lower temperature.

Do not water the phalaenopsis orchids more than once a week or leave the plants in standing water, for any length of time. Phalaenopsis orchids originate in South America, where they tend to grow on trees. Once in a while, they will receive a lot of rain, but that water evaporates quickly. Water only the medium in which they are planted, not the plants. Let the water sit in a container for at least twenty four hours before watering, so that it is room temperature and any chlorine will have evaporated.

Fertilize the phalaenopsis orchids approximately once a month. Use a good quality, well balanced, orchid fertilizer. Do not put fertilizer directly on the plants, as this may damage to the leaves. Make certain that it has been diluted to the proper strength for orchids.

Bark and moss are better growing mediums than soil. If you are going to change the bark or moss, do this when the plants are not in blossom. Ideally, they should be re-potted after they have blossomed, not during blossoming.

Phalaenopsis orchids go through a number of different stages: rooting, growing new leaves, a flowering stage and a dormant stage. At times, new roots will try to grow into the medium or container in which you have planted other orchids. The roots look like gray-green fish worms, as opposed to the blossom stems, which tend to be a darker, reddish-green color. The tender roots go downwards, while the sturdier blossom stems head upwards towards the source of light.

New leaves will grow directly out from the center of the plants, looking like little, dark-green triangles that will gradually increase in size. If you see leaves turning yellow, these will fall off by themselves. After the leaves finish growing, the phalaenopsis orchids will go into a blooming stage. When the blossoms fall off, the plants will assume a dormant or resting stage.

Do not move the plants when they begin to blossom, as the flowers will likely drop within twenty four hours. If you accidentally move your plants and the flowers do fall, do not be alarmed, as they may grow back on the same stem. You may trim the flower stem back if it does not appear to be getting new buds, after a month or so. Cut the flower stem to about three inches in height. You will see it turns a beige color over time and gets very dry. Then, you can cut it back further if you wish to do so.

Take good care of your phalaenopsis orchids and you will be well rewarded for your efforts. Have fun growing them and pass along a few tips to others.

Consider starting an orchid club and share your new hobby, your experiences and your successes. You will be glad that you did. Encourage others to do the same.

Growing phalaenopsis orchids just might prove to be your ideal hobby.


Sunday, December 7, 2014



The walking-waking guru: Five tips for beginners

In the future, you might be a walking-waking guru, because you read and followed these five tips for beginners. A guru is a teacher and a guide with respect to basic fundamental issues, concerns or matters in life. Using this definition of guru, look at the concept of walking as a form of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual exercise, taking the approach that what you learn about walking-waking for yourself, might be instrumental in helping others to do the same.

Walking should be regarded as a joy and not a job.

Too often walking is regarded as something that is work or as something one must do in order to get wherever one needs to go. It may be considered as a form of exercise. Often, walking is not considered to be fun and it should be. The fun of walking entails the waking up to reality, as part of walking.

"Hey, I just saw my first blue-jay of the season. It is spring!" "I see the new buds coming out on the trees. It won't be long now before the trees are covered with leaves!"
"I see the ice has broken on the harbor! Now the boats can get back in the water!"

There is a certain degree of excitement that is realized in conjunction with the changing of the seasons.

Walk! Wake up! Become a walking-waking guru.

Be alert to the changes in nature that are happening around you, every time you go for a walk and it will enhance your sense of well-being. Life is meant to be lived in full, not wasted as a couch potato, in some kind of a perpetual slumber mode.

Walking can be wonderfully refreshing for the body, soul, mind, will and spirit.

A person who is weighed down by heavy coats and boots, backpacks, briefcases, books, or other unnecessary items, is going to use most of his or her energy in terms of being a pack horse for whatever he or she is carrying. This is not to suggest that the attire should not be appropriate for the weather of that day or time. Many things need to be carried for different reasons, but your walking-waking time might not be the most appropriate time to become the beast of burden.

Plan your walking-waking time according and you may be amazed at how much more enjoyable your entire day becomes, both for you and for others. Wear appropriate clothing as well, keeping it as light as possible. Weigh the burden of the day against the walking-waking enjoyment you and others might anticipate, ahead of time and unburden the camel, so to speak.

Time and energy do have value, so be aware of how you spend those commodities.

You have the choice of spending them wisely or not spending them wisely. You know approximately how far you can walk in a certain period of time. To shorten the time, you may need to exert more energy and walk at a much faster pace. In the long run, ask yourself if it really has been worth it. Had you spent a little bit more time and walked at a more relaxing pace, you might feel a whole lot better, in the long run.
The walking-waking process will help you to get in touch with your own body rhythms and will alert you to possible dangers with respect to your own health.

"Are you in pain when you walk?
"Is your walking posture appropriate?"
"Is your breathing rate comfortable in relation to your pace?"
"Are you doing as much walking as you should or over-exerting yourself?"
"Is your heart rate appropriate for your pace?"

Walk! Wake up! Listen to what your body is telling you and you will be glad that you did.

Finding a walking buddy may or may not always be wise.

Many times, those who chose to accompany you on your walks, become the cause of more problems than they resolve. It is no fun to walk with non-stop talkers who bend your ear continually, while they unburden and vent their angers and frustrations upon you. That is not what your walk is all about. Let them know in a kind and gentle, empathetic way, that you might enjoy walking with them, so much more if you did not have to carry their emotional baggage on your walks.

There are also those who seldom if ever walk and suddenly choose to walk with you. Be prepared to walk much farther and at a different pace than what you normally might walk, as they just might decide to outdo you in terms of distance and pace. The end result is the reality that you may both go home exhausted. They may or may not realize that they could be harming you and themselves by walking that particular distance at that pace. Learn what pace and distance works for you and insist on that approach. That way, you will not be confronted with the reality that they may have walked too far or too fast and are in agony because of it. 
Trust your judgment, not theirs.

Learning what footwear is the most appropriate for you in terms of walking is really important.

How many times have you and others worn boots, shoes or running shoes that are not what you or they, should be wearing for walking a long distance? No one likes blisters and they can be painful. They may also become infected and take a long time to heal. One hour of damage can bring many hours of unnecessary pain. Walking-waking means becoming alert to what you need to wear in terms of footwear. Find footwear that is relatively lightweight and fits your particular foot. Just because some type of running shoe works well for someone else, does not mean that it is appropriate for your feet. Let your body, not someone else, tell you what you are the most comfortable in.

"Is it lightweight?"
"Is it durable?"
"Will it cause pain or blisters?

Remember that walking-waking means being alert to good foot care. Without your feet, you cannot be a walking-waking guru, so take good care of them. If you tend towards blisters on your feet, a good tip is to soak them in salt water. Try using a teaspoon of salt in a basin of warm water. Soak your feet for fifteen minutes and then, dry them well. You will be astounded at how much better they feel.

These five walking-waking tips for beginners are only a tip of the iceberg with respect to making your whole walking-waking experience much more enjoyable. You can probably add more tips to this list. Do so now and keep on adding new tips to the list. You might discover that the walking-waking guru in me, might just be the same walking-waking guru in you.


Tips for Better Looking Photos: The Rule of Thirds Explained



Tic tac toe tip for amateur photographers: The rule of thirds:

The rule of thirds is the tic-tac-toe tip of photography. This is a technique that professional photographers use to take pictures. You can learn to do this  easily, even if you are an amateur photographer or a beginner. 
If you are just learning how to take pictures as a beginner or want to take better photographs, try this technique. It is fun.

Everyone is familiar with the game of tic-tac-toe, even young children. Tic-tac-toe, more commonly known as x's and o's, is played using a grid consisting of four lines that intersect. Two lines are horizontal and two are vertical.

An amateur photographer, who is familiar with this grid technique, can take professional looking photographs, by following these five tic-tac-toe tips.

Look through the lens of your camera and imagine the picture that you want to take or better still, to start, use a photograph or picture of scenery. Draw a tic-tac-toe grid across the picture with a piece of chalk. As an example, imagine this photograph is a picture of a tree beside a creek with running water, on a warm, sunny day. With the grid lines in place, the picture should show that from left to right and from top to bottom, the picture has been divided into three sections.

Imagine that the tree is on the far left side of the picture and it lines up perfectly with the first vertical grid line.
The bushes on the far right side, line up with the second vertical grid line on the right. When we state vertical grid lines that means the lines from the top to the bottom of the picture.

Now do the same thing with the horizontal lines, but this time, the bottom of the tree lines up perfectly with the bottom grid line, on the left side of the picture. To the right, at just about the same height, there are two rocks. That grid line is set.

For the top horizontal line, find the top of the tree or one of the main branches that stand out. Look for something, at approximately the same height on the right side. That is your top grid line.

You should see that your picture has been divided equally into thirds, both vertically and horizontally. This is the rule of thirds technique and builds your tic-tac-toe framework for the picture.

Look closely at the center box of your grid in your photograph. See how the light hits the water? Picture it as coming in from the top left and hitting the running water at the center of the picture or just off-center, somewhere between the two, horizontal grid lines.

Look at the lighting in the picture closely and what you may see is the right side of the picture, where the bushes are, appears to be much darker than the left side, where the light is streaming in from between the trees. Maybe the light is hitting the tops of the rocks or the water, as it goes over the rocks. That is a perfect picture! Make certain that you hold your camera steady and snap away!

Using these tic-tac-toe tips as a way of taking pictures, takes a bit of work, but it will make a big difference in your photography. You will have much better photos and you will find a lot fewer pictures will wind up as discarded.

In the long run, you will also save yourself both time and money, by using the rule of thirds when you are taking pictures or by playing photography's tic-tac-toe.


How to Get the Most Out of Weight Loss Camp



With hundreds of children in North America, heavier than they should be for their age, height and body structure, there is increasing concern about proper weight management for children. One can see a growing trend towards the establishment of child weight loss camps, all across the country. This is a serious attempt to solve the problem of childhood obesity.

As a parent or guardian, seeking answers for your child, you might be interested in considering these factors, before you sign any agreement with a child weight loss camp.

Have you taken your child to his or her doctor recently, to learn what he or she should weigh in terms of age, height and body structure?

Has your child had a physical, recently? If not, now is a probably a good time, especially if you are seriously concerned about your child's weight.

Are there other medical issues to be considered? These must be dealt with first.

Are there any valid reasons why your child should not attend a weight loss camp?

Have you researched or compared other child weight loss camps in your area, to see what each has to offer?

Is the camp you decided upon, registered as a legitimate business?

Is this camp close enough to home, that you can monitor what is happening with your child, as well as his or her weight loss program?

Is the director a person who is qualified to work with children? Can he or she provide appropriate references, with respect to successful weight loss management for other children?

Are the camp counselors appropriately trained with respect to weight management for children? Are there enough counselors at the camp?

Does your child show an interest in weight loss, at this particular age, or time in his or her life?

Is the camp which you are considering, one that is safe in terms of water, cabins, recreational buildings or other facilities?

Have you visited the proposed camp to see what it offers? You might want to go there before sending your child.

Does this camp have an adequate program for children, with respect to both short and long term weight loss and management?

Would you be happy at this camp? If not, you child may not be happy there either.

Are you and your family going to be able to participate in any of the activities with your child?

Is there a dietary aspect to the weight loss program, as well as an exercise regime, that your child will be taught? Will this include you and the rest of your family?

Will what is being taught to your child, become part of a change in life style, for both you and your child, in the future?

Is the cost too prohibitive or is it in a price range that suits your budget, at this time?

Taking all of these factors into consideration, you may decide that the weight loss camp that you are currently looking at for your child is or is not appropriate. Perhaps just camping together as a family and looking at family weight loss and management programs is much more appropriate. Consider that possibility, too and enjoy camping, whatever you decide.



Gardening Tips: How to Avoid Pain



Grinning, greening and groaning: Tips with respect to avoiding pain

All right, so you are grinning. You have been greening, but now you are groaning, too. (Remember that if you had just tossed some seeds to the wind, or into some stream or low ying area, you would not be groaning right now. Mother Nature would have done all of the work for you.) 

You have been planting or gardening, but you overdid it  But you are happy, because you have accomplished a lot of garden work today and you know that by planting your garden, you have done your part to improve the environment. Good for you.

Perhaps you could have, should have and would have done more, but already you feel that you just could not possibly lift, even one more shovel full of earth. Now you are in agony, from all of the hard work that you have done. It feels like your back is out of whack and every bone in your body is hurting. You can barely stand up straight or walk. It is painful when you lie down. Every muscle in your body is aching.

Does this sound familiar? Is this what the aftermath is supposed to be like when you have been planting trees, shrubs, or a vegetable garden? What is wrong with this picture?

Should it not be grinning, greening and growing? That is more realistic and much less painful. That is the correct aftermath for all of your hard work, but unfortunately, if you insist on doing things the hard way, you will feel the pain in the end.

Here are a few tips to prevent this painful scenario from happening:

Plan your planting ahead of time, so that you are not trying to do everything, all in one day.

Work in terms of priorities, setting the most important ones first.

If you know that the work that you are planning to do, entails a lot of things that are too heavy for just one person, find a helper for the day.

Good body mechanics can prevent a lot of later aches and pains.

Use the appropriate tools and equipment for the job that you are planning to get done.

Keep in mind the reality that less can be more, as everything that you are planting will expand as it grows.

Learn how to prepare your soil ahead of time, so that you are not digging through hard earth.

Plan your work, so that it is done in the cool of the morning, or evening, rather than in the heat of the day.

Wear appropriate attire to avoid sun stroke, sunburn and blisters.

Invest in knee pads for the garden, if you are planning on spending a lot of time on your knees.

Work the soil within a day or so, just after it has rained and the soil will be so much easier to work.

Learn about compost and mulching, as that helps to retain moisture, fertilizes and lightens the soil and will give you much better results, in the long run.

Remember that a good part of what you have done today, will have to be done again in a few days or a week, so plan accordingly.

Just taking a few of these tips into consideration can save you agony.

Enjoy grinning, greening and growing.

Everyone will wonder what you have been up to and why you have such a happy smile on your face.